Engine



1. R. PFLAUME.

ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1?.'1919. 1 343 473. PatentedJune 15,1920. f 4sHEErs-sHEET x.

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ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7. I9I'a.

Lig' y J. R. PFLAUME.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1919.

J. R. PFLAUME.

-ENGINL APPLICATION FILED MAH. I7. IsIa.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented June 15, 1920.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS R. PFLAUME, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 METEOR MOTOR' COMPANY,

4 A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ENGINE.

Application led March 17, 1919. Serial No. 283,250.

To all whom' t may concern Be it known that I, J UL1Us-R. PFLAUME,

a citizen of the United States of America,

and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines, of

turbine wheel is driven by the` impact of the products of combustion from a plurality of explosion chambers arranged around the driven wheel. In the design, the general Y plan is followed of utilizing the explosion in one chamber for operating a pump to supply. air to another explosion chamber in which the ignition occurs later.

The invention relates more-particularly tothe design of pump mechanism whereby, in proportion to the force of the explosion, an ample supply of air is supplied to the explosion chambers for cooling purposes and to insure complete combustion of the fuel.

Objects of the invention-are to provide an improved co trolling cam for restoring the air pumps andtiming the ignition, and to provide an improved connection between the cam and pump pistons and outlet valves for the combustion chambers which serves to hold the pump pistons and the valves in normal position until the exact moment of firing, when the valve and piston may act without other restraint than the work performed. Another purpose of the invention is l. to provide an improved governor-controlled-l L leavmg the nozzles 7.' Nozzles 7 communi- Fig. 5 is a sectional detail ofa pair of cylinders showing combustion chambers andv air pumps.

Fig. 6 is `an enlarged sectlonal detail of a fuel-controlling valve.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view showing ad- ]ustable means for regulating the charges of fueldelivered to the combustion chambers.

Flg. 8 is a side View of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9` is a plan view showing the arrangement of the fuel supply conduits and controlling valves.

Fig. 1() is a side elevation of the cam as viewed from the plane of the line 10.-10 of Fig'. 1.V

as turbines of the general type shown in the drawings are frequently provided with a gearing or positive drive between the turbine shaft and the fuel and air-regulating devices. In the present machine an arrangement is provided whereby the air and fuel supply is under perfect control independently of the rate of rotation of the turbine wheel. This arrangement includes a governor-controlled friction drive between the turbine shaft and a cam which controls the air pumps and .fuel inlets for the different combustion chambers.

Another distinguishing feature of the deslgn over prior arrangements is the means for maintaining the outlet valves of the comcate through the passages 8 with a'plurality of combustion'cylinders 9. Each of the cylinders 9 as shown in Fig. 1 comprises three compartments. The uppermost'l compartment 10 is open to the nozzles 7,-ithe central compartment or explosion chamber 11 is separated from the lower air pump chamber 12 by the diaphragm 13 but with respect/to the compartment 1() is alternately opened and closed as controlled by valve 13. Each compartment 11 is provided with a spark plug 14, a fuel inlet 1 5, and an air inlet 16.

Assuming that, air and fuel having been admitted to compartment 11 and ignited, valve 13 will be blown upwardly from its seat andthe products of combustion may then enter the chamber 10,' which communicates with the nozzles 7 and by the latter the products of combustion are directed Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 15, 1920. Y

against the blades of the rotor ata velocity proportional to the pressure developed in chambers 1l and 10. T-he upward motion of the Valve 13 through its -stem 17 serves to operate the air compressor piston 18 within the cylinder 12. The piston 18 is provided with inlet apertures 19 controlled by the check valve 20. The air within the com partment 12 passes through a conduit 20 to the explosion chamber 1l of a cylinder which in turn is supplied with fuel and then'after the ignition occurs therein actuates its air pump. This cycle of operation is repeated in all the cylinders in succession.

The conduit 20 serves as a reservoir between one pumping cylinder and the respective explosion cylinder. Each conduit is provided with back pressure valves 2l and 22 which are respectively held in closed` position at the timefof an explosion andl during the intake stroke of piston 18.

The means for maintaining valves 13 normally in firm engagement with their seats includes a rotatable cam 23. This cam is provided with a flange 24 for engaging rollers 25, on arms 26 pivoted at the lower ends of swiveled vposts 27 depending from fianges on the lower ends of the pump cylinders. of pivoted links 28 and 29 with the piston 18, a restoring spring 30 bears between a roller 31 on link 28 and the post 27. Spring 30 normally-urges the valve 13 towardits seat,'and it likewise serves to return piston 18, but the action of the spring is supplemented by-the ositive means provided by the curved portlons 32 of flange 24.

The cam 23 is rotatably mounted upon bearings 33 and when the high points 24.1 (Fig. 10) of flange 24 passes the rollers 25, the ignition takes place in the corresponding combustion cylinders. The arrangement of swiveled posts 27 and pivoted links 28 and 29 permits the desired rapidity of action of the valve 13 and piston 18 byallowing the rollers 25 to swing off from the high point 24.1 of the cam the instant the explosion takes place. The rateof motion of the arm 26 when an explosion takes place with respect to the comparatively slowly driven cam 23v necessitates providing means for permitting the arm to roll ofil of flange 24. The

swiveled post 27 and the pivited links 28l and 29 permit this action. The roller 25 may swing toone side clear ofthe low part of flange 24 and into line with the outl wardly extending upper portions 34 4of the flange. The cam 23 .is rotated by the governorcontrolled friction disks 35 fast to a. shaft 36. The disks 35 are normally urged into contact with the internal inclined surfaces 38 of the cam by the spring 37. Shaft 36 receives its rotation from shaft 4 at approximately a 5 to 1 reduction by means of the friction The arms 26 are connected by a pairv and the 'wheel 39 fast to shaft 36 and bearing against shaft 4. The friction wheels turn drive the cam 23 at approximately a 5 to 1 reduction from the rate of rotation of shaft 36.

The fuel is fed from a supply conduit 40 (Figf9) through the different branch conduits 41 to the fuel inlets 15 of the cmbuspressure by the osy carried by an annular frame 47. The arms 46 are in position to engage rollers 48 carried by arms 49 rigid with the valve-operating arms 43 and rockable around the pivots 50. Frame 47 may be iven anangular adjustment by means of 51e handle 51 for the purpose of regulating the throw of arms 46 under the action of rollers 44 and consef quently` varying the extent of vopening -a number of the valves 42. This is illustrated in Fig. 7 by showing one of the arms 46 by dotted lines 46.

In operation, the engine is started by means of customary starting devices which may be arranged to impart rotation to the shaft 4.- The time during whichV the fuel valves 42 are held in open position is regulated by4 an adjustment of the ring 47 around its ri id support by means of the handle 51: T is adjustment of the rings results in the operating arms 46 for the valves extending more or less across the path of travel of roller 44. The ignition takes place in the different .cylinders 1nv succession, an

explosion in one cylinder causing its valve to be lifted from 1ts seat a distance corresponding to the force of theexplosion. The piston 18, which is rigid with the valve, has

its compression stroke as the valves moves v flange 24 of the cam has cut-away portions suitably located t o permit upward motion of rollers 25 during ythe vupstroke of pistons 18 and the valves 13 at they correct times. VSprings 30 serve to restore the valves 13 pistons 18 to normal position, but the power of the springs is supplemented by the engagement of the part 32 of flange 24 with the rollers 25. The cam by this means serves to positively restore the pistons and valves to normal position. In order that the lnotion of valves 13 and the piston 18 at the time of explosion may not in any manner be interfered With by the ange 24, the arm- 26 is free to rock sidewise around its support on the cylinders. rlhe rocking motion of arm 26 is limited by a'pin 52 extending into a slot in the `post 27. rlhe governor'-y control friction device 35 serves to. drive cam 23 at a constant speed, irrespective of increases in speed of the turbine Wheel 5. Accordingly, the fuel valves 42 are held open any predetermined time and accord-l ingly the richness of the charge is not lessened due to increased speed of the rotor.

vAlthough'but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown 'and described, it Will be understood that numeri ous details of the construction showny may 'be altered or omitted Without departing from the'. spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An engine of the class described, Where-v in arotor is driven by the products of combustion from a series of annularly arranged 1 combustion chambers, a corresponding number of pumping cylinders arranged in axial alinement with the respective combustion chambers, valves operable by explosions in said combustion chambers and adapted to control -the discharge of the products of combustion to said rotor, pistons in. saidl prising a rotor and a series of combustion chambers' arranged to deliver products of combustion to nozzles arranged around the rotor, a corresponding number of pumpmg cylinders, a reservoir connecting each pumpl ing cylinder with a combustion chamber, back-pressure checkvalves arranged 1n each -of said reservoirs adjacent the points of connection' with said pumping cylinder and combustion chamber, valves controlling the outlets of said combustion chambers, pump pistons movable with said valves and arranged to supply air to said combustion chambers', said last-mentioned valves being opened by explosions and causing the pistons-to move an extent corresponding to the force of the explosions. Y

3. An engine of the class described, Wherein a rotor is driven by the products ofl combustion from a series of annularly arranged combustion chambers, and air pumping pistons operated by explosions in said chambers and serving to supply the chambers with air, a cam for restoring said pistons, a lever coperating with said cam and havwith another combustion chamber,

ing a pivotal connection with said piston permitting a limited lateral motion of said lever While also serving to restore said piston.

4t. An engine of the class described, comprising a rotor, a com-bustion chamber arranged to deliver products of combustion to the rotor, va valve. controlling the outlet of said Icombustion chamber, means for pumping air under pressure into said combustion chamber, a cam for retaining said valve in lclosed position against the gas pressure, and connections between said cam and valve comprisinga lever, a roller carried by said lever and having rolling contact with said cam, said roller being shiftable to one ,side of its normalposition with respect to said cam for the purpose of instantly clearthe time of an explosion.

5'. An engine of the class described, Wherein a rotor is driven by the products of combustion from a series of annularly arranged combustion chambers, and air pumping pistons operated by explosions in said chambersand serving to supply the chambers With air, a cam for restoring said pistons, a lever cooperating with said cam and having link connection with said piston permitting a limited lateral movement of said lever with respect to the axis of said piston, and having a pivotal fulcrum also arranged to permit axial andl lateral movement of said lever with respect to said piston whereby said lever may be thrown sideWise out of cooperative relationwith said cam, and means normally urging said lever to a position for cooperative relation With said cam.

6. Anengine of the classdescribed, comprising a rotor, combustion chambers in a series around and having outlets to said rotor, fuel feed conduits leading to said combustionchambers, valves controlling said fuel conduits, a rotary valve-operating device driven by said rotor, and adjustable means intermediate said valve-operating device and the valves for regulating the duration of opening of said valves under the action of said valve-operating device.

7 An engine of the'class described, comprising a rotor, combustion chambers in a 'ing thecam to permit action of the valve at series around and lhaving outlets to said` l rotor, fuel feed conduits leading to said combustion chambers, valves controlling said fuel conduits, a rotary valve-operating device dr1`ven by said rotor, a series of arms inclined with respect to the path of said rotary valve-operating device and yadapted to coperate therewith for regulating 4the duration of opening of said valves under the action of said valve-operating device.

Signed at Chicago this 11th day of Feb., 1919.

JULIUS R. PFLAUMF.. 

